What is You Are The Hero?

If you could be any superhero, who would you be? What powers would you have? What would your superhero name be? These are questions we all think about when we're young. There's something about the idea of being a superhero that speaks to all of us. This is especially the case when we're kids, but even more-so when we're sick. We feel weak, and in cases of severe illness, completely defeated.

Welcome to 'You Are the Hero' (or YATH). We are a charitable organization which was inspired by that attraction to super-heroics. Through YATH, children who are living with a chronic, life changing illnesses can envision themselves as the superhero they've always wanted to be. They can invent their own superhero name, have any powers or fantastic abilities they desire, and even design their own costume! Their vision of themselves as a superhero will be realized in the form of a fun and dynamic digital illustration which is provided free of charge.

YATH aims to help uplift and inspire sick children around the world.

About the artist & founder:

Hello! My name is Bryan Dyer - I'm a professional illustrator and a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art (2012). I have a life-long interest in superheroes and passion for creating exciting and engaging artwork for younger audiences. For my thesis project during my senior year in college I wrote and illustrated a comic book designed to educate children about Type 1 diabetes. It was while working on that project that I came to understand how the lives of millions of children are affected by chronic diseases and disorders.

This is what ultimately inspired me to create 'You Are the Hero'. If my art can bring even just a little bit of joy and happiness to a child who may be going through a life altering or even life threatening illness, then it's all worth it.

Besides, who doesn't love superheroes?

How does it work?

The first step is to fill-out and submit the Superhero Form. This form contains a series of questions that will help us in creating your child's illustration. Questions such as the ones mentioned above like, "What would your superhero name be?", etc. In addition, we ask that you include a photo of your child, this is to ensure that the likeness in the image is correct.

However, we understand that privacy is of the utmost importance. Parents/guardians can opt to not include a photograph, in which case we ask that you simply provide a description of your child as an alternative. Things like hair, eye, and skin color as well as height and hair length will help ensure that the illustration is accurate.

There is no priority waiting list and the illustrations are completed on a simple "first-come, first-serve" basis. Once the information you've submitted has been received, we will begin to work on the illustration itself once I have completed the previous submissions.

** These illustrations are completely free of charge and you are not asked to pay anything.

Is there an age limit?

Any youth under the age of 18 is eligible.

How many illustrations may I order?

At the moment we request that you only order one illustration per child.

How long does it take?

This depends entirely on the volume of requests we currently have. Due to the current number of submissions, you can generally expect to receive your illustration approximately eight weeks after submitting your form. However, that time may increase or decrease depending on the current number of submissions.

How will I receive my completed illustration?

A digital copy of your completed illustration will be submitted to the parent's email address that you include when you fill out the Superhero Form. We hope to eventually be able to offer a wide variety of high-quality prints, but as of yet we can only distribute the finished images digitally.

You Are the Hero is made possible through the generous support of the Kiwanis Club of Waukesha, Wisconsin